Plowing 1/2 mile driveway with a UTV. Should it be done?

[DK35vince]

Get back to me in a few years of doing that. Those CV joints and other drive train components are barely large enough to transport the machines themselves, never mind this brutal kind of "work".

But the worst part is the cost to repair these UTVs. Parts in particular. You don't find them at NAPA or Pet Boys.

Just my opinion though.

Yet many of the belt drive UTV's drive trains and CV joints are holding up to UTV now with 100+ HP being run in rough trail conditions.
Many of the newer turbo UTV's are 120- 170+ HP. Running CV joints and belt drive.

 

[Doofy]

Old plow truck or a tractor would be my choice. UTV IF you just want to race around the property. You will want real tools in case you get some real snow.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Kubota RTV's would have the guts you need. And they make great farm taxi's the rest of the time.

 

[s219]

I have 8 acres and help maintain another 192. Even just on my 8, my Kubota RTV is indispensable and a big help. Sometimes it's a mobile workshop holding tools for an ongoing project, other times it's used to move firewood and materials around more easily than using a tractor. Certainly not a substitute for a tractor, but it really serves well if you need mobility on a large property. I don't use mine to plow snow -- use my tractor with a rear blade for that -- but I have seen several videos of an RTV plowing, and it is really impressive. I think something like an RTV, Gator, or similar workhorse UTV will serve you well for many reasons.

 

[UpNorthMN]

Any UTV would be fine for plowing snow. Yes, a tractor would handle the job better. But it seems a UTV would be the best all around option for OP given the circumstances. If he needs to do more serious work, he has a tractor available next door. And he did mention in the future getting a tractor.

I plowed a half-mile driveway with a Yamaha Grizzly 550 for 2 years, no issues. Yes cold, but it got the job done fine. The fear of belts on these machines is also irrational. Sure it may wear them out faster if the snow is wet/heavy, but routine maintenance prevents unforeseen events.

 

[shui5612]

It all depends on how much snow you get in one shot or overnight. A UTV or side by side is about 35-40% more capable than an atv due to weight. But otherwise they use close to the same engines and tires. A utv has a larger blade so it's "less capable than an atv at times. The trick is to have the blade angled and use speed. Figure an atv will be able to push 6 inches of snow about 150 ft (52inch blade, not angled) and a UTV will be able to push that same snow about 210 feet with a 60-64 inch blade. But while angling you will be able to push the snow with no issues.

The limitations of atvs and utvs is that they can only push effectively about 6-8 inches of snow. Anything above that and you'll have to only make a pass with half of the width of your blade. And the first few snow removals need to be much wider than the road as the road will become narrower as the utv can no longer push the snow bank any higher nor push the snow bank behind it.

I personally love what Polaris offers as their awd system is amazing. You switch it on and as soon as it detects slip (1/5th of a rotation of a rear tire at most) it engages 4x4 with all 3 differentials closed. OP will need to figure out whether they want a fun toy primarily I.e. an rzr or something dedicated to work like a ranger 800 or a ranger 6x6.

As far as cv joints and belts go, yes they do break but a belt is a lot cheaper to replace than to fix a transmission or change a clutch .. belts do wear out as well and you tend to feel it grab worse/some slip. Atvs and utvs just spin their tires since they are so light and lack traction that breaking cvs and belts is a somewhat rare occasion (unless they are modded with larger and taller tires for example).

Lastly OP, the best thing you can do with a utv is angle the blade all the way, and ride down your street going say 15-20mph while there's only 2-3-4 inches of snow. I rather clear the snow twice by 4 inches than once by 8.. it throws the snow out and away pretty well.

Hope this helps

 

[coobie]

We are going to building in the next year or so and out property is going to have ~1/2 mile driveway to the home. The elevation gain is minimal (~30 ft of variance across the entire length), and it is90% open field, with the last 10% leading to the house wooded. My dads property borders us, and he has a JD 990 and a plow truck. I have a Rubicon with a warn plow that I use at my current place (small driveway). We had talked about selling the rubicon and buying a UTV and plow setup so we have a more capable machine for the larger acreage (can take the family with me, use it for hunting, chores, etc.).

I know most would recommend a plow truck for this size driveway, but I遏･ wondering how a UTV might fare? We don稚 get a lot of large snows in our area, but when we do, I can always fall back on my dads truck if need be (or his tractor with his FEL if I need to move piles). I just want something that can be both recreational as well as useful, and I don稚 need to buy a cabbed tractor at the moment (as some might suggest) since I have access to tractor for tractor duties. I own a new Tundra, but don稚 want to plow with it (too new, don稚want to prematurely wear things out, etc.).

Thoughts? If this is a yes, should I be looking at more work oriented brands such as the Gators, Bobcats, and RTVs? I really like the Honda Pioneer 700-4 for its versatility in seating/cargo room, but unsure of how it would handle the work I want to throw at it.

Btw, the property is 150 acres, so it will be used quite frequently for other duties.

I plow mostly with my 2006 Kubota RTV 900 with 5ft plow.Road is private about 1 mile long never a issue with snow removal.

 

[check]

Man, 150 acres! I'm jealous. And a dad with a plow truck AND a tractor right next-door. You have it made. Yes, definitely get a UTV, as he will need it for 150 acres of roaming around. And check out the repair history of various brands. Polaris does not seem to do so well.

By the way, I have been driving ATVs for years and years, and always plow with them. Never had a problem with the belt, even on all old machines. Currently I plow with a CanAm 650 and a 60 inch blade, and it does a great job, and quickly. The usual problem of course, is that over time the snowbanks build up, and you can't plow big giant dumps of snow. But I also have a blower on my tractor which takes care of anything and everything that I get. They're actually pretty cheap, so maybe buy one for your father's tractor?

 

[MGH PA]

Man, 150 acres! I'm jealous. And a dad with a plow truck AND a tractor right next-door. You have it made. Yes, definitely get a UTV, as he will need it for 150 acres of roaming around. And check out the repair history of various brands. Polaris does not seem to do so well.

By the way, I have been driving ATVs for years and years, and always plow with them. Never had a problem with the belt, even on all old machines. Currently I plow with a CanAm 650 and a 60 inch blade, and it does a great job, and quickly. The usual problem of course, is that over time the snowbanks build up, and you can't plow big giant dumps of snow. But I also have a blower on my tractor which takes care of anything and everything that I get. They're actually pretty cheap, so maybe buy one for your father's tractor?

Thanks, I’m extremely lucky, that’s what it really comes down to. A lot of things had to come together for this land, and if it wasn’t this piece, there’s no way I could have bought land around here after the gas boom. Just luck sometimes.

As for the equipment situation, that’s why I’m leaning more toward a UTV now. I would like to have a cabbed tractor someday with a little more HP than my dad’s 990, but that’s a big $$ purchase that can’t be justified this close to building a home. I can sell my Honda, and my boat, and pay cash for a UTV and plow. It may not be the 100% best tool for the job, but if it can be a jack of all trades/toy, why not?

The problem is, my wife wants a cab, and that adds $$

 

[DK35vince]

Yes, definitely get a UTV, as he will need it for 150 acres of roaming around. And check out the repair history of various brands. Polaris does not seem to do so well.

By the way, I have been driving ATVs for years and years, and always plow with them. Never had a problem with the belt, even on all old machines. Currently I plow with a CanAm 650 and a 60 inch blade, and it does a great job, and quickly.

I occasionally read different ATV/UTV forums. What's good and what's not depends on which forum you are on.
On the Can Am forums Polaris is junk, on the Polaris Forums its often the other way around, on the Kawasaki forums its both Can Am and Polaris that are no good.
Many of those forums are to biased IMO.